Which is the wisest owl

We in the East, however, would find it unbelievable that any bird, least of all an owl, should be held in such high esteem because in our part of the world the owl is actually agreed upon, hands down, to be a symbol of foolishness!

Weather, too, holds different meanings for dwellers of East and West primarily owing to geographical separation. While rains are generally welcomed by us with much fervour and joy, heralding freshness, fertility and a new start on life, they hold quite a different meaning in the West. Quite a lot of their songs and poetry use rain as a metaphor for melancholy.

The case of the full moon is no different. We usually associate positive things with the full moon, sing songs and compose couplets in its praise and correlate it with beauty while on the other side of the world the full moon is mostly a sign of foreboding and imminent evil. The sun and consequently summer in our part of the world mostly stand for hot, humid weather and stuffy, sweaty conditions but signify life and vitality in the West.

This duly explains why the sunny weather forecast is met with apprehension here and zealous picnicking there. Autumn is much glorified in western literature due to the brilliant colours it lends to the atmosphere but in the East it is still very much a symbol of sorrow, decay and fading youth.

Winter in the West is long, dark and dreary for most and winter blues are not uncommon there but we who have been roasted and toasted by the sweltering summer sun welcome it with much relief and respite and readily associate it with the pleasure of munching on nuts. The owl, of course! Owls are birds of prey known as raptors. Like all raptors, owls have sharp beaks and strong claws — called talons — that they use to catch and eat other animals for food.

Other raptors include hawks , eagles , and falcons. Owls don't necessarily compete with other raptors for food. In fact, they can often share territories , because unlike most raptors, owls are mostly nocturnal.

That means owls do most of their hunting at night when other raptors are sleeping. Scientists believe there are over different kinds of owls around the world. Almost 20 species of owls can be found in North America alone. Today, owls can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Owls can range in size from the very small elf owl five inches tall to the two-foot-tall great gray owl.

Regardless of size, all owls tend to be stocky with large heads and soft feathers. Their feathers are often light colors, such as tan, brown, gray, and white, which allow them to blend in easily with tree trunks and branches.

When you see an owl, one of the first things you notice is its large eyes. Owl eyes are so large, in fact, that they can't even move in their sockets like your eyes can. Owls have to move their heads around instead. Owls' large eyes enable them to see better at night when they tend to hunt.

Most owls can see about three times better at night than you can! Believe it or not, though, most owls don't hunt mainly by sight. Instead, they hunt mostly by sound. The feathers around an owl's face collect sound much like a satellite dish collects signals from space.

Owls also have one ear that is slightly higher on its head than the other ear. This means that sounds reach owls' ears at slightly different times, allowing their brains to judge more accurately where the sound came from.

So are owls really wise? Scientists know for sure that they're good predators. As for actual wisdom, who knows? Historians do know that owls have appeared in the art and writings of various cultures since ancient times. The ancient Greek and Roman goddesses of wisdom, for example, were often pictured with owls.

This may have led to their being used in many other types of popular culture as a symbol of wisdom. Many children's books, from Winnie-the-Pooh to the Harry Potter series, feature owls as wise and noble creatures. Who's the wisest animal of them all? Find a friend or family member to check out the following activities:. Hey, Val! Maybe this Wonder-- Why do Owls Hoot? An Internet search might be the best resource to classify owl species by size.

Hi Mert Erdal! That's a great question. We would worry about transmission of disease because of what the owls eat. We aren't sure whether there are legal issues. If you find out more, let us know! That is so great, Charlotte!

We are glad that you got to read about your favorite animal and learned something new, too! Thanks for stopping by Wonderopolis to find information for your report! We encourage you to use the search feature to find Wonders about volleyball and more Wonders about birds.

You can also research at the library and online! We encourage you to keep researching about owls at the library and online! Great question, olivia! We encourage you to read this Wonder closely to learn more. You can also keep researching owls at your library and online. Hi Hope! We love owls too, Bella22! It is great you learned so much and had fun too! That sounds very interesting, Riley!

You should also check out the links we shared in the comments that relate to owls. The great horned owl is cool, Baxter! Thanks for sharing your comment with us, Kennedy! Owls are pretty interesting creatures! Do you have a favorite species of owl?

We like owls too, Taylor! We're not sure how owls got the reputation for being wise! We do know that they communicate with other birds and animals by hooting. Howdy, Mr. Frederick's 2nd Grade! Thanks for sharing your question! Some owls do come out during the day, but you may not see them!

For instance, can you spot the owl in this image from National Geographic? Thank you for sharing your comment with us, Erin! We're not sure why the owl was thought to be a wise bird -- do you have any ideas? Thank you for commenting, Jamster! Hi Emma! Owls have been thought to be wise for thousands of years. Many believe it is because they are such good predators.

Hey there, Ovi, thanks for telling us about your favorite characters in the awesome Harry Potter series! Hedwig is one of the wisest birds we've ever met! Pictured is Magma, a beautiful red morph Eastern Screen Owl and she weighs around weighs around 5.

The eyes of an owl are not true eyeballs. The Short-eared owl lives in open terrain, such as prairies and marshes. It hunts by flying low over the fields, with buoyant, floppy wingbeats, looking like a giant moth Asymmetrical Ears These beautiful birds have a specialized hearing. Owls hunt by sound. The Snowy Owl is a large, powerful owl of the high Arctic tundra, colored for camouflage during northern winters Owl Camouflage These birds have brilliant camouflaging plumage often light in colors, such as tan, brown, gray and white allowing them to blend in with tree trunks and branches that help them catch their prey.

So do all these attributes add up to make them wise? The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a tiny owl with a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes.

Pictured is Mr. Another study found that some owls practice a primitive form of tool use. The most secretive of owls, it is totally nocturnal. Living everywhere from coastal plains to lowland estuaries, the short-eared owl has a inch wingspan - its unique wing-clapping is an integral part of its mating display.

It has an amber conservation status, as there are believed to be only 2, native pairs in Britain, although its numbers can be swelled by winter migrants. The mighty European owl is 26 inches tall, with a wingspan of 68 inches. Initially, the population in Britain began after birds flew in from Europe, but there has been a successful UK breeding programme since It is the top owl predator and can carry off prey up to the size of a deer fawn.

It is Britain's rarest owl, with up to 40 known breeding pairs. In Cornwall, the Screech Owl Sanctuary, located near St Columb Major, provides sanctuary for sick and injured owls, with the aim to release the birds back into the wild when they have recovered. The little owl can be found living in the wild in Cornwall, and can be spotted along hedgerows, in parkland and on farmland.

According to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, it was introduced in the 19th century. We also stock a wide range of wild bird foods to help our feathered friends survive through the harsh winter months. Call into our St Austell store in person to meet our friendly and knowledgeable staff, or contact us online for further information.

Allow Cookies. Delivery Rates. All orders placed before pm, Monday-Friday, will be despatched within working days. How Wise is an Owl? Recent Posts. Ancient mythology In early Rome, the owl was believed to bring bad luck and was generally feared.